Fire-escape.



no MODEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 3 1904.

- 3 SHEETSSHEET l.

INVENTOR 7 I I ATTORNEY I No. 761,478. PATENTED'MAY 31, 1904.

W. R. HANRETTY.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION rum) MAR.8.1904.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES:

W'akJZ. I?

INVENTOR RNEY , No; 761,478. v PATENTED MAY 31, 1904. W.R.HANRETTY.

"FIRE ESCAPE. APPLIOATIIVON FILED mu. 8. 1904. no xonm. a sums-sum a.

WITNESSES: INVENTORY WNW-41 1% M No. 761,4?8. I

UNITED STATES Patented May 31, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. HANRETTY, OF NEVVBURGH, YORK.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

. S'PECIFIQATICN forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,478, dated May 31, 1904.

' Application filed naah'sfleoi. Serial No. 197,116. (No model.)

i To aZ'Z who m i t may (mama:

Be itkn own that I, WILLIAM R. HANRETTY, a citizen of the United States of America, and

a resident of Newburgh, in the county of Orange and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Fire- Escapes, of which the followingis a specification. i The object of my invention is to produce an improved fire escape which is highly eflicient in service, always ready for action, and inconspicuous when not in use.

Most fire-escapes are found to be deficient in one or more of these features, especially in that of capacity. By the use of my improved.

device a building may be quickly emptied,and when not in use it is no more noticeable than a rain water lead, and, in fact, may be easily 1 mistaken for s'ucha pipe."

Briefly described, my device consists of a horizontal track attached to the side of the building near its 'top, a hanger carrying a wheel traveling on the said track, a vertical tuloehaving brackets secured to its top, the

said brackets being capableof a verticallysliding movement on said hanger, a horizontal shaft having its bearings in the brackets, springs arranged to oppose the downward movement of the brackets relativelyito the hanger, friction-wheels fixed upon the shaft,

' brake-shoes arranged to press upon the friction-wheels upon downward movement of saidshaft, aseco'nd sprocket-wheel mounted in the bottom of said tube, an endless chain passing through the said tube and over the said sprockets, the said tube having a longitudinal slot eirter'icli'ngthe full length of one side and steps attached to said chain and disposedexterior to said slot, the said steps-being adapted to fold and pass up inside of the said tube and all the top of the-tube to 'open'and pass down outside of said tube, the said tube having a longitudinal dividing-wall between the two parts of the chain and the tube also having at its bottom a flaring portion for the purpose of pushing the feet of the person carried off the steps. j i

. My invention will be further described by reference to the accompanying drawings.

59 Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved ward direction.

fire-escape in position for use, certain portions belng broken away. Flg. 2 is a plan of the complete device as viewed from about the line AA of Fig. 1, the building being shown in section on thesame line. Fig. 3 is afront view of the hanger and its adjuncts,

partly in elevation and partly in section, the

section being taken on the line B B of Fig. 5. r

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line D D of Fig. 3 as viewed in a downthe line C C of Fig.3 as viewed from the right. .Fig. 7 is a plan view of the vertical pipe detached. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the pipe shown in Fig. 7 with the middle portion broken out. Fig. 9 is a rear. elevation of the step-carrier detached, the steps being shown in open position by full lines and in.

dotted: lines for the closed position which they assume when the carrier is inverted in Opera tion. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the stepcarrier as viewed from the right of Fig. 9'. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the step-carrier in place-on the vertical tube, the steps being shown as open and the endless chain being removed. Fig. 12 is arear elevation of the tube with a middle section broken out and also showing the lower sprocket-wheel and itsv Y the track 1 is spaced out the proper distance from the window 5, that part of the track next to the bracket 3 being nearer to the building and the track being curved, so that each end portion thereof is parallel to the building.

'6 is a hanger in the upper portionof which is journaled a wheel 7, which travels on the track 1 and supports the saidhanger. Guiderollers 8 are mounted in. the hanger 6, two at each side laterally thereof and disposed upon either side of the track 1. These rollers 8 are especially useful in passing around the curved portions of the track 1.

Fig. 6 is a partial section on 9 is a vertical tube, preferably of sheet metal and having secured to its top the brackets 10. A horizontal shaft 11 isjournaled in the upward extensions 12 of the said brackets, the extensions 12 sliding in bearings 13 on the hanger 6 and the shaft 11 passing through vertical slots 14 in the said hanger. Coiled compression-springs 15 rest upon horizontal extensions 16 of the hanger 6 and carry at their upper ends bearing-blocks 17, supporting the shaft 11. Secured upon the shaft 11 are friction-wheels 18. Mounted upon the hanger 6 at opposite sides laterally of each friction-wheel 18 are antifriction-rollers 19, and between each of the said friction-wheels and the antifrietion-rollers are wedge-shaped brake-shoes 20, having their wide ends uppermost, a yoke 21 connecting together the lower ends of the said brake-shoes, the said yoke being engaged by the shaft 11as, for example and as shown, by the said shaft passingthrough an upward extension of said yokeand the hanger 6 having guide-grooves 22 for the said yoke. A sprocket-wheel 23 is fixed at the middle point of the shaft 11, and a second sprocket-wheel 24 is mounted in the bottom of the tube 9 on a shaft 25, carried by supports 26, attached to the said tube. 27 is an endless chain which passes over the sprockets 23 and 24 and both parts of which lie within the tube 9. means of the adjusting-screws 28 engaging the slides 29 of the sprocket 24. A longitudinal slot 30 extends the full length of one side of the tube 9, and the said tube has a partition 31 throughout its length.

Step-carriers 32 are attached to the chain 27 by pins 33 passing through a link of the chain and through the cars 34. The stepcarrier 32 has a central rib 35, which runs in the slot 30, a portion 36, which in descending passes outside of the tube 9, and an inner portion 37, having bent prongs 38, which help the said carrier to start in the slot 30 at the top of the tube 9. Steps 39 are pivoted in the outer portion 36 of the carrier 32 on a pin 10 and in their open position abut against shoulders 41 and when folded against the stop 42.

The chain 27 comes down within the tube 9 on the side next to the slot 30 and ascends in the tube on the other side of the partition 31, the steps 39 closing at the bottom of the said tube by their own weight when the carrier 32 is inverted in passing around the sprocket 2 1, then passing with the chain up inside of the tube and opening automatically by their own weight at the top of the tube when the carrier 32 is righted by passing over the sprocket 23. There are, as shown, several carriers 32 and pairs of steps 39 upon the chain 27, so that the said several pairs of steps may be used successively. The tube 9 has at'its bottom a flaring portion 43.

The weight of the entire device hangs by The chain 27 is kept taut by the wheel 7 on the track 1 and when not in use may be pushed to one side of the window 5, the wheel 7 then resting in the depression i i of the track 1 and retaining the device in position, the said ,device then being held close up to the side of the building. The slotted side of the tube 9 is always toward the building.

In using the escape the hand may be reached out of the window 5 and the device brought in front thereof. Then the person may sit upon the window-sill and place his feet upon the steps 39 with the hands or arms around the tube 9 and safely and speedily come down from any height. \V hen the ground is reached, the feet of the user are automatically pushed off of the steps 39 by the flaring portion 4:?) of the tube 9. There may of course be other windows below the window 5, and as there are several carriers 32 on the chain 27 steps are continually furnished at each story.

The track 1 may be of any length and may extend along the whole front of a building, so that the escape may be made to move along the entire extent of the width of the building. and thus be serviceable at any window, a wire attached to the device and located under the window-sills being used to move the escape along.

In this specification and the following claims it should be understood that an endless wire, cable, rope, belt, &c., may be substituted for the endless chain 27 they being considered as mechanical equivalents therefor.

I claim as my invention 1. In a fire-escape, the combination of an endless chain, a sprocket-wheel from which said chain depends, a shaft upon which said sprocket is secured, a hanger, said hanger having vertical slots for receiving said shaft, springs interposed between said hanger and said shaft and adapted to resist the downward movement of said shaft, friction-wheels secured upon said shaft, and brake-shoes arranged to press upon said friction-wheels on a downward movementof said shaft relatively to said hanger.

2. In a fire-escape, the combination of a horizontal supporting-track, a hanger, a wheel carried by said hanger and adapted to travel on said track, a vertical tube, brackets secured to the top of said tube, a horizontal shaft journaled in said brackets, said brackets having a sliding engagement in a vertical direction with said hanger, springs opposing the downward movement of said brackets relatively to said hanger, friction-wheels fixed upon said shaft, brake-shoes arranged to press upon the friction-wheels upon the downward movement of said shaft, a sprocket-wheel socured upon said shaft, asecond sprocket-wheel mounted in the bottom of said tube, an endless chain passing through said tube and over said sprockets, said tube having a longitudinal slot extending the full length of one side,

and steps mounted upon said chain and projecting through said slot. 1

'3. In a fire-escape, the combination ofav horizontal supporting-track, a hanger, a'wheel,

' tively to said hanger, friction-wheels fixed upon said shaft, brake-shoes arranged to press upon the friction-wheels upon the downward movement of'said shaft, a sprocket-wheel se-- cured upon said shaft,a second sprocket-wheel mounted in the bottom of said tube, an endless chain passing through said tube andover said sprockets, said tube having a longitudinal slot extending the full length of one side, and steps mounted upon said chain and projecting through said slot, said steps being adapted to fold and pass up inside of said tube.

4:. In a fire-escape, the combination of a horizontal supporting-track, a hanger,-a Wheel carried by said hanger and adapted to travel on said track, a vertical tube, brackets secured to the top of said tube, a horizontal shaft journaled in said brackets, said brackets having a sliding engagement in a vertical direction'with said hanger, springs opposing the downward movement of said brackets relatively to said hanger, friction-wheels fixed upon said shaft, brake-shoes arranged to press upon the friction-wheels upon the downward movement of said shaft, a sprocket-wheel see cured upon said shaft, a second sprocket-wheel mounted in the bottom of said tube, an endless chain inside of said tube and passing over said sprockets, said tube having a longitudi-fl nal slot extending the full length thereof, and

stepsmounted upon said chain and projecting through said'slot, said steps being adapted to fold and pass up inside of said tube, said tube having alongitudinal division-wall between the parts of said chain and said tube also hav ing at its bottom a flaring portion, whereby the feet of the person descending are pushed off the steps.

5. Ina fire-escape,tlie combination of a horizontal supporting-track, a hanger, a wheel journaled in said hanger and adapted to travel I ends of said brake-shoes, said yoke engaging with said shaft and said hanger havingguideslots for said yoke, a sprocket-wheel secured upon said shaft, a second sprocket wheel mounted in the bottom of said tube, an endless chain within said tube and passing over said sprockets, a chain-tightening device for sa-1d second sprocket-wheel, said tube having a longitudinal slot extending the full length l of one side, and steps mountedupon said chain and projecting through said slot, said tube having a longitudinal division-wall between the parts of said chain.

6. In afireescape,the combination of ahoris zontal supporting-track, a hanger, a wheel journaled in said. hanger and adapted to travel on said track, a vertical tube, brackets secured'to the top of said tube, a horizontal 'shaft journaled in said brackets, said brackets and shaft having a sliding engagement in a vertical direction with said hanger, springs interposed between said hanger and said shaft and opposing the downward movement of said shaft, friction-wheels fixed uponsaid shaft, an antifriction-roller at either side laterally of each of said friction-wheels, wedge-shaped brakeshoes,with their wider ends uppermost, between said friction-wheels and said antifriction-rollers, a yoke connecting the lower ends of said brake-shoes, said yoke engaging with said shaft and said hanger having guide-slots for said yoke, a sprocket-wheel secured upon said shaft, a second sprocket-wheel mounted in the bottom of said tube, an endless chain within said tube and passing over said sprockets, a chain-tightening device for said second sprocket-wheel, said tube having a longitudinal slot extending the full length thereof, a step-carrier secured to said chain and extending through said slot, steps pivoted to the 'portion of said carrier outside of said tube, said steps being actuated by their own weight to fold and pass up inside of said tube and to automaticallyopen and pass down outside of said tube.

7. In a fire-escape, the combination of a horisides of said track, a vertical tube, brackets secured to the top of 'saidtube, a horizontal shaft journaled in said brackets, said brackets and shaft having a sliding engagement in a vertical direction with said hanger, springs interposed between said hanger and said shaft and opposing the downward movement of .said shaft,' friction-wheels fixed upon said shaft, an antifriction-roller at either side laterally of each of said friction-wheels, wedgeshaped brake-shoes, with their wider ends up- 7 permost, between said frictionwheels and said ant1fr1ct1on-rollers, a-yoke connecting the lower ends of said brake-shoes, said yoke being engaged by said shaft and said hanger having guide-slots for said yoke, a sprocket- Wheel secured upon said shaft, a second sprocket-Wheel mounted in the bottom of said tube, an endless chain Within said tube and passing over said sprockets, a chain-tightening device for said second sprocket-Wheel, said tube having alongitudinal slot extending the full length of one side, a step-carrier secured to said chain and extending through said slot, steps pivoted to the portion of said carrier outside of said tube, said steps being actuated by their oWn Weight to fold and pass In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 5th day of March, 1904.

WILLIAM R. IIANRETTY [1,. 8.]

Witnesses:

\VILLIAM J. VVYGANT, HOWARD THORNTON. 

